Ukraine presidency says deal reached on crisis, opposition silent

[okaawhatever]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Ukraine's presidency said on Friday a deal had been reached at all-night talks on resolving the country's crisis after 75 people were killed in two days of the worst violence since Soviet times.

But the opposition did not immediately confirm agreement had been reached and diplomatic sources described the talks brokered by three European Union ministers as "very difficult".

Three hours of fierce fighting on Thursday in Kiev's Independence Square, which was recaptured by protesters demanding President Viktor Yanukovich quit, left the bodies of civilians strewn on the ground close to where talks took place.

A few thousand people were occupying the square on Friday morning but there was no sign of any new violence after Thursday's bloodshed in Kiev, which is caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war between East and West.

Yanukovich's press service said in a statement that agreement had been reached at the talks and added: "The agreement will be signed at midday (1000 GMT)."

The three EU ministers, from Poland, Germany and France, did not immediately comment on the presidency statement.

Continued at Link

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-ukraine-idUSBREA1G0OU20140221

[dipsydoodle]

1. BBC News : Ukraine crisis: Yanukovych announces 'peace deal'

Ukraine's president says he has reached a deal with the opposition to end the crisis, after all-night talks mediated by three EU foreign ministers.

Viktor Yanukovych's statement said the agreement would be signed later.

However, the French foreign minister voiced caution, saying the deal was not definitive, and the opposition has not confirmed Mr Yanukovych's claim.

Protesters and police are still locked in a stand-off in Kiev, a day after dozens were killed in violent clashes.

Hours after Mr Yanukovych announced the deal, more violence was reported in central Kiev.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26284505

Reuters are reporting the Ukraine's constitution will be reformed by September cutting presidential powers.

Guardian reporting :

The purported agreement is believed to include a pledge by Yanukovych to hold early presidential elections by the end of the year – probably in December – as well as moves to curb the president's powers by reverting to the constitution of 2004, which Yanukovych changed when he took over in 2010.

An official announcement is expected at midday local time (10am GMT).

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/21/ukraine-president-says-deal-has-been-reached-opposition-bloodshed

[another_liberal]

2. RT News is reporting hardline protesters have rejected latest ceasefire.

Eyewitness reports claim the protesters have again begun firing on police near Maidan Square, and that all police have been ejected from the Rada (parliament) building. Statements from protesters interviewed in Central Kiev suggest they still reject anything but Yanukovich's immediate resignation, with national elections to follow in quick order, hence the renewed violence.

http://rt.com/news/kiev-clashes-rioters-police-571/

It appears the new peace deal was passed with only a few of the President's coalition members in attendance:

Enough representatives attended to allow an emergency session of parliament to be held; at least 226 members must be present in order for such a meeting to take place. Of the 239 representatives in attendance, 236 voted in favor.

“The extent to which these resolutions influence the actors in the streets has yet to be seen. Out of a total 442 seats in the Rada, only 30-some members of Yanukovich’s Party of Regions attended. The vice-speaker Ruslan Koshulinsky presided [instead] of the absent Vladimir Rybak, who’s a member of the Party of Regions,” according to the Guardian.

[ctsnowman]

3. Opposition agrees to deal with Ukraine president

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/ukraine-president-announces-early-elections-opposition-silent-article-1.1622139

[pampango]

4. Deal signed for a national unity government, constitutional changes reducing presidential power and

a presidential election by December.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and opposition protesters have agreed to an early presidential poll before the end of the year. The election is part of a deal to end the country's political crisis.

The agreement was later signed by opposition leaders and Mr Yanukovych at the presidential administration headquarters in Kiev.

The deal has not been published, but Mr Yanukovych referred to a national unity government and constitutional changes reducing the president's power.

Ukrainian broadcaster ICTV said it had seen a copy of the agreement, which included three main proposals:

The 2004 constitution will be restored within 48 hours, and a national unity government will be formed within 10 days
Constitutional reform balancing the powers of president, government and parliament will be started immediately and completed by September
A presidential election will be held after the new constitution is adopted but no later than December 2014

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26289318

[EmilyAnne]

5. Now Yanukovych needs to resign and Putin can make that happen.

Then Putin can recover from his miscalculation.
Yanukovych has been condemned by the Rada and most of the world community. Putin really is the last world leader who supports him, and that support seems shaky right now.